Actuating means for fastener driving machines



Dec. 25, 1951 J. G. SOAVE 2,580,135

ACTUATING MEANS FOR FASTENER' DRIVING MACHINES Filed Dec. 29, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 :e: Hf} IAID Q" 0 I3 I 14 Q l2 l INVENTOR JOHN G. SOAVE, 0

BY W2 ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 J. G. SOAVE ACTUATING MEANS FOR FASTENER DRIVING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed D66. 29, 1950 INVENTOR JOHN G. SOAVE,

||| lilll.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1951 AOTUATING MEANS FOR FASTENER DRIVING MACHINES John G. Soave, Long Island City, N. Y., assignor to Waldes Kohinoor, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,370

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in actuating means for presses of the swinging head type, and more particularly to an improved means for positively actuating the swinging head of such a press throughout its full angular movement from a rest to a working position with respect to a fixed anvil.

Presses as aforesaid are conventionally used to apply end stops to a slide fastener, such end stops being in the form of a staple whose prongs are driven through and afiixed to the fastener tapes at the end of the fastener, usually the bottom end, to prevent movement of the slider past the endmost fastener elements. In its swinging movement from its rest to its working position in which it impacts the anvil, the head is adapted to transfer a staple from a hopper and, finally, to set it in the tapes of the fastener which is supported on the anvil.

I-Ieretofore, the head of such a press was actuated in its swinging movement by a force generated by the operator through depression of a foot pedal and which was transmitted to the head through a reciprocable drive rod pivotally connected at one end thereof to the head and at its other end to the foot pedal. Obviously, a force generated by foot pressure on a pedal is or may be irregular, giving rise to certain objections in the use of an end-stop applying press, among which may be noted that if the applied foot pressure is too small, the hammer end of the head will not impact the anvil with a force sufficient to properly set the staple and, if too large, the force with which the head impacts the anvil can be so great as to damage the fastener tapes. Moreover, the direct connection of a drive rod to a head mounted to swing in a descending are on its power or working stroke is objectionable, since analysis will show that with such form of drive connection the head attains its greatest velocity as it approaches the anvil, with the result that its force of impact on the anvil, being uncontrolled in the sense that it depends on the varying pressure applied to the foot pedal, may far exceed that required for properly setting the staple.

Stated broadly, a principal object of the present invention is the provision of a simple yet highly eifective means for actuating the swinging head of a press as described which overcomes the above-noted objections incident to foot operation and which also effects a controlled movement of the swinging head, giving a lowering velocity and a corresponding increase in power of the head as it approaches the anvil, with the result that the smoothness and uniformity of press operation is 2 greatly improved as compared to prior presses serving similar function.

More particularly, the invention aims to pro- Vide solenoid means for imparting the actuating force to the drive rod of the head operating mechanism, in conjunction with a toggle-joint form of drive connection between the drive rod and the swinging head, wherein the solenoid means functions consistently and uniformly to generate the predetermined force required positively to actuate the head throughout its working stroke, and the toggle-joint driving connection operates to translate said force into a high initial but a lowering velocity as it approaches the anvil, such lowering velocity being accompanied by a corresponding increase in power.

Another object of the invention is the provision of solenoid means for generating and imparting the head actuating force to the drive rod of a press actuating means as aforesaid, which is so constructed and arranged as to permit the use of relatively inexpensive standard commercial solenoids, the stroke of whose armatures is less than the predetermined axial movement of the drive rod required to actuate the head from its rest to its working position.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved actuating means for the swinging head of a press of the stated character employing two standard commercial solenoids which are 50 connected that they operate in series in imparting the predetermined axial movement of the drive rod required to actuate the head from its rest to its working position.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of solenoid means for efiecting the predetermined axial movement of the drive rod of a press-head actuating means as aforesaid, which employs two standard commercial solenoids connected in series and coupled in such manner that one of the solenoids imparts a portion (for example one-half) of the predetermined movement required of the drive rod and simultaneously therewith conditions the second solenoid for operation, and that the second solenoid following its conditioning as aforesaid imparts the balance of said drive rod movement.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of solenoid means for applying the force required to actuate the swinging head of a press from its rest to its working position which employs two standard commercial solenoids whose armatures each have a stroke less than that required for head actuation, and a coupling between the armatures which effectively totals the motion of both solenoid armatures to a sum corresponding to that required for actuating the swinging head throughout the full extent of its swinging movement.

Other objects and features of advantage of the improved press head actuating means of the invention willbe seen from the following detailed description thereof, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of. a swinging head type of press employing solenoid actuating means therefore according to the present invention, the view illustrating thehead in, its normal or rest position; the solenoid; armatures in their corresponding inactive cr -raised position, and the special coupling meansconnect; ing said armatures;

Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating the solenoid armatures in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 3 is.a View similarqto Fig, 1 illustrating the swinging head in its-workingposition and; both solenoid armatures in their, fully attracted positions.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated press, except for its head-actuating,means,,is. of the conventional typeused for app1ying, the -staplelike, end stopsto the tapes of slide fasteners as aforesaid, and;cornpris es a vertical press. frame in having an offset arm H which mounts a vertically disposed anvil l2; on which a slidefasteneris adapted tobe positionedto receive the end stop.v Qperati el elat d. o t e. anvi i2. i e ra e head 3.;mo1m o. wmseb -ut a. fixed fulcrum; 15,011 the press frame. The work ing end of the head is c medesahammer. 13a. ch. a edm n h tes ed. "v estn sition. ie. hea hi s e e he iap erl e 951:. stop froma hopper liiand consequent to the; swinging motion of the head to drive the I prongs thereof throughoutthe tapesof the slide fastener positioned on the anvil and thereupon to setor; clinchthe end stop throughengagement ofthe prongs with the anvil, all as well known in the art.

The head I3 is adapted to be actuated through out its working stroke uponpredetermined axial movement in the downward directionbeing imparted to a substantially vertically disposed drive rod [6 which is connected to the head through a H toggle-joint form of driving connection. Such connection comprises a normally inclinedlever llpivoted intermediate its endsfto turn on a frame-mounted pin it, the raised or rearward, end thereof being connected to the upper end of they drive rod, and the lower or forward end thereof being pivotally connected at IQ to one end of a normally vertically disposed push link Zilwhose upper end is pivotally connected to the heachit being observed from Fig. 1 that in the retracted position of the head the lever I? and push link 20 have a normal acute angular relation. When drive rod lii'isactuatedin downward direction an amount causing the lever H and the push link v 2% to straighten out, i. e. to assume a substantially straight-line relationship, as seen in Fig. 3; the link-2t moves upwardly and imparts a force on the head, causing it to swing downwardly againstthe anvil 12. However, since upwardimove'ment of the pivot pointis is accompanied-also by rearward movement thereof 7 (because the forward end of lever El moves rearwardly) there results an effective shortening of the push link as itapproaches its uppermostlFig. 3) position, which results --ina lowering-in' the velocity and a corre sponding increase in the power of the head as it approaches the anvil.

As distinguished from prior swinging head presses, wherein the force for imparting the pre determined axial movement to the drive rod it required for head movement is generated by foot pressure on a foot pedal, the present invention provides solenoid means for imparting the required drive rod movement, thus rendering press operation independent of irregularities in applied footpressure and more smooth and uniform than heretofore. It is a further feature of the invention that the solenoid means employed comprise two standard commercial solenoids, the stroke of whose-armatures under electro-magnetic attraction of their w-indings is less than the prede termined axial movement of the drive rod 15 required to actuate the press head throughout its fullmovement aforesaid, and a special lost-motion coupling between the armatures of said solenoids fortranslating-the stroke of each solenoid armature into approximately half of the required drive rod movement.

To this end, the solenoid means of the invention comprises afirst or lower solenoid Blaifixed by means of; a bracket '23 to a. vertical mounting plate 24 secured to the press frame It as by U-clamps 25, and a secondor. upper solenoid26;,also-secured to said mounting plate The solenoids 22.; and 2.6 are disposedin verticallyspaced relation below the drive rod li and hence their armatures. 28,. tihrespectively are;coaxially arranged; with respect to one another, and generaily with reby means of a bracket 21.

spect to thedrive rod.

The solenoid armaturesproper-are fabricated from magnetic material, as usual, and are, pro vided with non-magnetic stabilizingextensicns 28a, 311a respectively which center andsteadyt the armatures when they are in their raised position with respect to. the, windings of their solenoids, in which theyare shown in Fig. 1. Noris out ing.

tzextendingbetween the lower end of the armature extension 3011 and the upper end of the. armature 28. To permit relative motion between said armatures, the coupling between the armature extension 36a and the armature 28 is oi the pin and slot type providing for lost-motionmovement between said armatures, the-pin-33 being carried by the armature extension and the slot 34 being cut or otherwise formed in; theconnecting link 32. By reference to Fig. 3, the lengthof the slot is in excess of the stroke of the'armature 30, and its lengthwise positioningalong the length of the link is such that, as shown-in Fig.4,

the pin normally engages the upper terminal edgeof the slot and through the link supports armature 28 partially raised from the winding of its solenoid 22 but in the magnetic field thereof.

The operation of the solenoid actuating means as aforesaid is as follows: Upon both solenoids 22,;26;bei ngenergized, the upper solenoid-26 initially performs no useful work, since its armature 3ll=-is disposed above and without-the field' f its winding as aforesaid. However, the armature 28 of the lower solenoid is attracted and moves throughout its full stroke to a position illustrated in Fig. 2, such armature motion being transmitted to the drive rod it through link 32, coupling pin 33 and armature 33 of the upper solenoid, and thereby actuating the drive rod for a portion (approximately one-half) of the predetermined axial movement required for full' presshead actuation. The motion of the armature 28 also lowers the armature 39 into the field of the upper solenoid (Fig. 2) and thereby effectively conditions the upper solenoid for operation. Since said solenoid is energized, the armature 355 is now attracted andmoves throughout its stroke to its Fig. 3 position, completing the movement of drive rod. Due to the pin and slot coupling between armatures, the armature 30 may partake of its stroke without interference, since the pin and slot connection 33, 3 1 permits the armatures to contract axially.

Return movement of the swinging head it is accomplished by suitable spring or other means (not shown) which become effective upon the solenoids 22, it being deenergized. Such head movement returns the armatures 39 to their raised position corresponding to the rest position of the head (Fig. 1) and completes the cycle of operation.

Energization of both the solenoids 22, 26 may be controlled as by a plunger operated switch contained in a switch box 3 afiixed to the base of the frame, with its plunger 37 projecting through the lower end of the box in position to be engaged by the nose of a foot pedal 38 fulcrumed to said base. The solenoids 22, 26 are connected in a supply circuit (not ShOWl'l) controlled by said plunger-operated switch, and hence the press head 13 is actuated throughout its working stroke by a mere touch of the foot on pedal 38. Other conveniently located and readily operated means for closing the solenoid supply circuit may of course be substituted.

It will be appreciated that the press head actuating means as described achieves the desirable objectives of the invention set forth in the foregoing by relieving the operator of the requirement of applying the actuating force through depression of a foot pedal and, instead, operating the drive rod of said actuating mechanism by solenoid means capable of applying uniform force and thus making for smooth and uniform press operation. The invention also provides a simple yet highly effective arrangement of two standard commercial solenoids, the stroke of whose armatures is only about one-half of that required, as the means for applying the requisite axial movement to the drive rod, which are so coupled that each solenoid supplies onehalf of the required axial movement of the drive rod, thus overcoming shortness of armature stroke and thereby permitting the use of two inexpensive solenoids rather than an expensive, specially constructed single solenoid.

The invention also provides an improved form or" driving connection between drive rod and swinging head which overcomes the noted objec tion of the head attaining its greatest velocity as it approaches the anvil which characterized the prior direct connection of drive rod to head. The improved toggle-joint driving connection aforesaid combines with the solenoid means for powering the head actuating linkage to give the same controlled and predetermined staple-setting pressure for repeated operations of the press, and

thus guarantees uniformity of staple-setting for the life of the press.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A press comprising a frame, an anvil mounted thereon, a sector-shaped head fulcrumed to the frame for swinging movement toward and away from said anvil, and means for actuating said head including a drive rod drivingly connected to said head and adapted upon predetermined axial movement thereof in one direction to actuate said head from a normal rest position to a working position in which it engages on said anvil, and a pair of solenoids mounted on said frame in vertically spaced relationship and with their armatures coaxially disposed to one another and generally to the drive rod, the armature of the upper solenoid being directly connected to said drive rod and to the armature of the other solenoid by a lost-motion connection.

2. A press comprising a frame, an anvil mounted thereon, a sector-shaped head fulcrumed to the frame for swinging movement toward and away from said anvil, and means for actuating said head including a drive rod drivingly connected to said head and adapted upon predetermined axial movement thereof in one direction to actuate said head from a normal rest position to a working position in which it engages on said anvil, and a pair of solenoids mounted on said frame in vertically spaced relationship and with their armatures coaxially disposed to one another and generally to the drive rod, the armature of the upper solenoid being connected to the lower end of the drive rod, which latter has length as to maintain said armature raised from the field of its winding when the head is in its rest position, and being connected at its lower end to the armature of the lower solenoid by a lost-motion connection normally maintaining said last armature within the field of its solenoid winding, said connection being operative upon energization of said solenoids to translate the stroke of said last armature into actuation of the drive rod through a portion of its predetermined axial movement and simultaneously therewith to lower the armature of the upper solenoid into the field of its winding, thereby rendering the upper solenoid effective to actuate the drive rod for the balance of said movement.

3. A press comprising a frame, an anvil mounted thereon, a sector-shaped head fulcrumed to the frame for swinging movement toward and away from said anvil, and means for actuating said head including a drive rod drivingly connected to said head and adapted upon predetermined axial movement thereof in one direction to actuate said head from a normal rest position to a working position in which it engages on said anvil, and a pair of solenoids mounted on said frame in vertically spaced relationship and with their armatures coaxially disposed to one another and generally to the drive rod, the stroke of each said armature under electromagnetic attraction of its field being less than the predetermined axial movement of the drive rod required to actuate said head throughout its full swinging movement aforesaid, and means interconnecting the armatures of said solenoids to one another and: tosaid drive rod in: such. manner that one of the solenoids is efiective-to actuate the drive rodfor aportion of "saidpredetermined axial movement and s the other solenoid I is eifective-to actuate-the driverod for the balance: of said movement.

4; A press comprising a frame, an anvil mounted thereon, a sector-shaped 7 head; fulcrumed to the frame for swinging movement toward and away from said anvil, and means for L actuating saidhead'including a. drive rod drivinglyconnected to said head andz adapted upon predetermined axial movement thereof one direction toactuate said head'from a normahrest position .to alworking;positioninwhich itgengages on said-anvil; and apair ofzsolenoidsmountedpn said frame inlvertically,spaeed. .re1ationship: and with their armatlliles;z -coa: z;i a11y-.- disp Deed to one a her andeenerallyrtothedriverr d, thecstroke of. each said-v armatulel nder; electromagnetic a link-in turn connected :to the upper end ofi the connection and saidlink normally supportingithe armature of the lower solenoid within the field of its solenoid: winding; theconstruction; and a1:- rangement beingsuch thattenergization of said solenoids: results" in the armatureof thedower solenoid partaking of its stroke and: impartingqa portion .of said'predetermined 2 axial movement-to saididrive rod-through the intermediate-linkrand the armature of the upper solenoid;Vand1a .corre'-.- spondingmovement of: the latter. armaturezinto theefieldiofits solenoid winding; and thereupon in thearmature of the upper solenoidpartakin of its: stroke and. imparting-the.balance of said predetermined axial movement! to-said .drivenarod'i JOHN GesQAllEn REFERENCES; CITED The following references are: of record in the file of this patent:

UNIIEDv STATES PATENTS,

Number Name Date;

1,879,835, Wollny Sept. 211,932 1,919,944 Hicks l Ju1y12 5, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS. Number Country Date.

1 416,470 Germany l- ,Noy.- 26, 1903 

